Fiji's retired teachers encouraged to stand for Youth Party

Fiji's retired teachers are being encouraged to stand as candidates for election under the banner of the National Youth Party.

The organisation has collected the decreed number of signatures to register and plans to do so when young people descend on Suva for a sporting event later this month.

A spokesman for the party, Nayagodamu Korovou, says parents of young people make up most of the members so far.

He says young people and ex-teachers are being invited to put their names forward to stand for the party in the September polls.

"Teachers can make good good politicians, when we want true democracy. True democracy happens in schools and teachers understand youth better than any other people that work. That's why we're calling on retired teachers."

Mr Korovou says improving employment and removing sales tax from food are among his party's main policies.